Page 99 of Devious Obsession
“You want to get drunk, little viper?”
I grit my teeth. “Why do you call me that?”
“That’s for me to know.” He nudges me. “We won’t let my father ship you off somewhere.”
That’s nice of him to say. Too bad, though, because I don’t believe it.
We sit in silence until the waiter comes back. I take a sip of the smokey, caramel liquid. It burns a path down my throat, but I appreciate the sting. We sit and drink, and finally, when my limbs feel a little less heavy, I sigh.
“Mom needs your father more than she needs me,” I whisper.
He glances at me sharply.
“What?” I finish my whiskey and stand. It doesn’t burn anymore. In fact, it tastes kind of good now that my taste buds are numb. “Did you think she just got married for his money? Oh… that’s right, youdidthink that. Because we can’t have any deeper motive than that.”
He stands, too, and takes my arm. I don’t realize how much I was wobbling until I stop. Oops.
“Are you going to explain it, then? Since you obviously know.”
“Nope. Not gonna tell you.” I snort. “We should’ve drunk at our own damn hotel.”
He sighs and follows me out. All the way onto the street. I glance over and realize he’s still carrying his bag. And my purse, too. The strap is sticking out of the bag he’s carrying, like he shoved it in there without thinking.
Nice.
Maybe.
Unless he was stealing.
Not that I have any money or anything particularly interesting at all in there. Just a few tampons, you know,just in case. A compact mirror. That dark-red lipstick I put on earlier and forgot to reapply. Which I actually wiped off between the second and third period, afraid of getting it everywhere when I met up with Steele.
Look at me, thinking ahead.
I smile to myself and walk faster. The stadium is all lit up from the outside. Workers cleaning up, maybe? Hopefully no one witnessed our Zamboni adventure. Wouldn’t that be awkward…
Then Stephen would definitely lock me up.
A giggle slips out, and it’s like a dam breaks. I can’t contain my laughter.
Steele wraps his arm around my waist, keeping me upright. The laughs burst out of me, and tears slip down my cheeks. I can’t breathe.
It’s not funny.
It’ssonot funny.
“Up you go,” Steele grunts, lifting me into his arms. One under my knees, the other across my back. And he’s got his bag over his shoulder to boot.
I kiss his cheek.
He stops walking and glances at me, brow furrowed. “What was that for?”
“The lift. And… I mean, I’m glad I get to finish the semester. It gives me a chance to plot my escape.” I tuck my head in the crook of his shoulder and neck, closing my eyes.
“Escape?”
“Well, I’m not going to be locked up. This isn’t the first time I’ve hidden from someone, Steele.” I wasn’t supposed to say that. I press my lips together, but the words are out there.
My bad.
